#WhyImVotingUkip: Twitter users hijack Ukip's hashtag in backlash against party

It's well known that social media campaigns can easily backfire, particularly when the ever sarcastic British public are involved.

So it seems strange that chiefs at political party of the moment Ukip decided it was a good idea to promote their policies ahead of the local and European elections tomorrow with the Twitter hashtag #WhyImVotingUkip.

The phrase quickly began trending on the site today after it was mocked by hundreds of users, many of whom poked fun at the party's right-wing stance on immigration laws.

Comedian Robert Webb wrote: "#WhyImVotingUkip because I thought Lord of the Flies was just a jolly adventure story."